This kind of stuff bothers me. Here is the tweet in question:
https://twitter.com/KariLake/status/1617657224851230720
Here is the current AZ voter registration form: https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/voter_registration_form_092222-standard.pdf
We can clearly see that the left side images are from 2020. With this form, we can conclusively know that the right side are voter registration forms. Not exactly this form, but almost certainly that form is modified/updated for each election cycle. It is similar enough to know what we are looking at.
The water is muddied here. This is presented in a manner that would insinuate they are from her election. But they are not. And nobody seems to be reporting this accurately. Why?
I have not seen any reporting that directly says this is from Lake's 2022 election. I also have not seen any reporting that says these are from 2020. It is as if this story is being deliberately twisted to have everyone believe they are from her election. This is not good at all. When your own team deceives you, that is not acceptable. Why would this be happening? I don't have a theory. Curious on what everyone here thinks.
I believe the right side is the envelope from mail in votes (2022) that is compared to the signature on file, usually from the previous election. (2020). There are no signatures on the actual ballots. So in NY ( I am an election chairman) the poll books contain name, address, date of birth and a copy of the signature from the previous election. Absentee ballots must be placed in an inner envelope where you declare you are the registered voter under penalty of perjury for false statement. That signature is also required to be matched to the signature on file from last election. The image on the right is the oath on the envelope. Make sense?
Also, AZ statutes expressly state that the signature comparison be done with the voter registration card. Interestingly enough, it also appears to require "reasonable" efforts to contact the voter for curing, even if ultimately they decide to accept the signature. Guarantee they did not contact the tens of thousands or more with this issue to come cure. They just stamped it "approved."
https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00161.htm
16-161. Official record of registration; federal form; reporting
A. When the registration form is filled out, signed by the elector and received by the county recorder, it shall constitute an official public record of the registration of the elector.
https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00162.htm
16-162. Retention of registration forms and record of cancellation
The county recorder shall provide a means of retaining registration forms and records of cancellation of registration. The records shall be retained as prescribed by sections 41-151.15 and 41-151.19.
https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00171.htm
16-171. Preservation of signature rosters as permanent records
The signature roster of a precinct register shall be retained permanently, and transfer shall be pursuant to sections 41-151.15 and 41-151.19. Signature rosters may be retained pursuant to this section in an electronic format.
https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00171.htm
16-171. Preservation of signature rosters as permanent records
The signature roster of a precinct register shall be retained permanently, and transfer shall be pursuant to sections 41-151.15 and 41-151.19. Signature rosters may be retained pursuant to this section in an electronic format.
https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00550.htm
16-550. Receipt of voter's ballot; cure period
A. Except for early ballots tabulated as prescribed in section 16-579.02, on receipt of the envelope containing the early ballot and the ballot affidavit, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections **shall compare the signatures thereon with the signature of the elector on the elector's registration record. If the signature is inconsistent with the elector's signature on the elector's registration record, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the voter, advise the voter of the inconsistent signature and allow the voter to correct or the county to confirm the inconsistent signature. **The county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall allow signatures to be corrected not later than the fifth business day after a primary, general or special election that includes a federal office or the third business day after any other election. If the signature is missing, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the elector, advise the elector of the missing signature and allow the elector to add the elector's signature not later than 7:00 p.m. on election day. If satisfied that the signatures correspond, the recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall hold the envelope containing the early ballot and the completed affidavit unopened in accordance with the rules of the secretary of state.
Ya, but look at the registration form I linked. Its basically the same thing as the right side comparison.
I’m just saying…no cover up or anything nefarious here, she is showing the images that were just presented in the current case re: the 2022 election.
It is clear that the right side is the actual registration form because it contains the declaration, which would NOT be on an early ballot affidavit. It clearly states "declaration" above the signature box. The left side contains no such citizenship question because it is not the declaration, but the affidavit found on the back side of the early ballot envelopes. If you zoom in, you can see "ballot will not be counted without your signature."
No. Couldn't be more clear in the statute. https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00161.htm
16-161. Official record of registration; federal form; reporting
A. When the registration form is filled out, signed by the elector and received by the county recorder, it shall constitute an official public record of the registration of the elector.
What you describe is the precinct register. Which is not the same as the elector's registration record. https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00168.htm
16-168. Precinct registers; date of preparation; contents; copies; reports; statewide database; violation; classification
Voting history for all elections in the prior four years and any other information regarding registered voters that the county recorder or city or town clerk maintains electronically and that is public information.
All data relating to early voters, including ballot requests and ballot returns.
Yes, there is a precinct register signature roster. No, that is not what the statute requires for comparison to the ballot affidavit. https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00550.htm
16-550. Receipt of voter's ballot; cure period
A. Except for early ballots tabulated as prescribed in section 16-579.02, on receipt of the envelope containing the early ballot and the ballot affidavit, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall compare the signatures thereon with the signature of the elector on the elector's registration record. If the signature is inconsistent with the elector's signature on the elector's registration record, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the voter, advise the voter of the inconsistent signature and allow the voter to correct or the county to confirm the inconsistent signature. The county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall allow signatures to be corrected not later than the fifth business day after a primary, general or special election that includes a federal office or the third business day after any other election. If the signature is missing, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the elector, advise the elector of the missing signature and allow the elector to add the elector's signature not later than 7:00 p.m. on election day. If satisfied that the signatures correspond, the recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall hold the envelope containing the early ballot and the completed affidavit unopened in accordance with the rules of the secretary of state.
Signature rosters from the precinct register are not permissible to use as a comparison for purposes of verifying ballots. But they can be used for this: https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00169.htm
16-169. Disposition and use of precinct registers; signature roster; form
A. Upon completion of the precinct registers, the county recorder shall certify to their completeness and correctness and shall transmit them to the election boards. A copy shall be retained by the county recorder in either print or electronic media for verification purposes on election day, and then that copy shall be delivered by the recorder to the early election boards. The board of election shall use the original of the precinct register, which shall be known as the "signature roster", **for identifying the electors qualified to vote in the precinct **and may use the remaining copies to process voters or may place them in a convenient place outside the poll limits for use by the electors.
The bold above relates to this: https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00170.htm
16-170. Transmittal of signature roster to county recorder; comparison of names by recorder
Upon return of the signature rosters to the board of supervisors after the election, the board shall immediately return them to the county recorder, who may compare the names and signatures with the names and signatures in corresponding precincts in the general county register, and if the recorder discovers that any person has voted in violation of any provision of this title he shall report the violation to the county attorney.
Basically, the recorder may (but not "shall") use it to see if anyone unlawfully voted, and then prosecute that person. Nothing to do with the validity of the ballot they cast.
Strangely, it would appear some provisional ballots are compared to the precinct register. https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00584.htm
Voter registration forms have a "declaration" that is signed: https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/voter_registration_form_092222-standard.pdf
Early ballots have a voter affidavit. Which is not the same as a declaration. And is prescribed by a statute that must be strictly complied with. Notice zero mention in the statute about citizenship: https://azleg.gov/ars/16/00547.htm
Compare that to the proper registration statute. Note the citizenship requirements: https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00121-01.htm
Not at all accurate. There is no question about citizenship on the early ballot affidavit. The affidavit is saying that the person has not already voted, and will not vote more than once in this election under penalty of perjury. Also that they are a registered voter that filled this ballot out, unless assisted. Which has a separate section of the affidavit for the assistant to sign. It must be in strict compliance with the statute. They are not identical at all and governed by different statutes.
So bottom line is that left side is for sure the early ballot affidavit from 2020. Right side is the voter registration form because it has a declaration that would NOT be present on an early ballot envelope. There is no 2022 data here.